The government has no plans to form a law reforms commission - to monitor and review laws - as such mechanisms already exist, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

"The law revision department at the Attorney-General's Chamber is responsible for this," said de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz ( left ) in reply to Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) during the question-and-answer session.

"Apart from this, all ministries and government agencies have their legal advisors who study and review the relevant laws under their jurisdiction," he added.

Nazri, who is also minister in the prime minister's department, said all ministries are required to propose any amendments of laws to the AG before it is proposed to the government.

In a supplementary question, Zaid - who runs one of the biggest legal firms in the country - pointed out that the law revision department at the AG chambers was "overloaded".

"Law reforms is a heavy task and I believe the legal departments (in ministries and agencies) are inadequate. Hence, I hope the ministry will study this proposal in detail," he said.

Responding, Nazri said: "To form a new commission we must have a new structure and it involves financial implications. If we have an extra allocation, we should use it to improve the current mechanism."

Appointment of judges

In another supplementary question, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) asked whether the government will set up an independent commission for the appointment of judges as the current process needed the consent of the prime minister.

"This is against the doctrine of separation of powers," said the senior lawyer.

Replying, Nazri said any proposal to form such a commission should come from the judiciary.

The manner in which judges have been appointed and elevated over the few years has been criticised by various parties, including the Bar Council.

Met later, Zaid ( left ) said a law reforms commission was common in other countries as laws are the central part to the development of any country.

"The commission which usually comprised lawyers, academics, social activists and excellent society leaders can suggest law reviews to the government from time to time. You get the best of society to suggest to the government in this area," he said.

He opined that a number of current laws were outdated and needed a review.